The Portland daily press., 1887-05-07

guished, his manner perfect and a warm
and loving heart beat within his bosom. He
had presumed to lift his eyes and thoughts
towards the daughter of his employer; and
dared in his secret moments to even think
that some day he might earn the love of the
peerless Jeanne de Choisseul Claude Var
ney, elder brother of Francois, was an ex-
treme republican, hating the aristocracy and
hating his brother, as the wicked and un-
principled ever hate the honorable and the
noble They had one relative. an uncle,
Jacques Varney, who resided in Paris. He
kept public house there, was good hon
est citizen, but true man of the people,
ha;ing the king and his lovely queen. The
months passed swiftly, AT court and among
the mobiles all was gaiety and balls, masquer-
AIDES, water parties and other festivities fol-
lowed each in their season. The rich rolled
in luxury, the poor were starving The
queen so charming, so beautiful, was called
a coquette, a butterfly.
Marie Antoinette was true woman, and
gloried in being loved. 1t was an innocent
coquetry, but alasl the time was soon com
ing when every little act of the poor lady
would be brought up in dark array against
her. The king, Louis XVI, was vulgar,
coarse and sensual; and in spite of his ele-
CANT costumes covered with embroidery,
his hands sparkling with diamonds, and his
breast blazing with jewelled orders and
crosses his majesty had nothing dignifed or
| king-like in his demeanor
The dark storm came, and at last it broke
| with fury over the heads of royalty and no.
| bility, but even when the Bastile was taken
| and its captiyes liberated, the mobiles would
not believe that anything could menace
their holy order. Who has not read of the
! Reign of Terror? Three men of the people
were the leaders in those terrible times
Marat, Danten and Robespierre. They had
power of the convention and the mob which
none dared resist. The guillotine was the
awful instrument used for cutting off heads
quickly. For long time the naughty aris-
tocrats stood around their king and queen,
but at last they began to flee, for the streets
of Paris resounded with the sound of op-
preston and the cries of the wounded, and
Coblentz was filed with refugees The young
secretary, Francois Varney, urged The father
of Jeanne to flee while yet there was time,
put like brave and courtly gentleman he
cast in his lot with his royal master and mis-
tress and needed not the advice of his
friends.
The king and queen were still at the Tuil-
cries and with them a few of their staunch
friends. The count was in the cabinet of
Louis, Jeanne in the boudoir of her royal
mistress. Suddenly the air resounded with
oaths and insulting cries. The mob had
reached Versailles and surrounded The pal
ace. They shouted and yelled for the 'sbak-
er, his wife and little boy" and for the
Austrian" as they termed the queen.
Among the mob was Claude Varney, coy.
cred with dust, his hands dripping blood
This monster who had killed innocent women
and children now thirsted for the lives OF
the hated count and his daughter.
'They are in there, the naughty Count dc
Choiseul and his.dainty daughter" cried the
ruffian to his comrades. 'It was this aristo.
crat who had me horsewhipped year age
for some slight offence. He hates the com
mon people and is a tyrant to all. Out with
him kill him and his white-faced brat!'
Francois S. Varney had donned the rec
cap of liberty, and shouted as he with the
mob surrounded the palace: "Down with
the king! Down with the Austrianl Away
with aristocracyl''
At length he managed to slip away from
the sight of his cruel brother and without
ceremony he fastened to the little boudoil
where he hoped to find Jeanne. By this
this time the royal couple with their chill
dren had managed, by the help of friends, tc
escape from the palace and were fleeing as
fast as fleet horses could carry them from
the scene of bloodshed.
When the lover of Jeanne entered the lux
urious room Of the fugitive queen, he found
the daughter of the count alone, for her ia.
ther had bade her remain there until2he
came for her. He was assisting his master
and mistress in their efforts to leave the pal
| ace.
Jeanne, my love, my life!' cried Fran
co.'s, forgetting all etiquette, all concealmen
of his feelings in this hour of peril. q
have come to save you. The mob ar,
crying for your fathers and your blood
Come with me before it is too later,
The half fainting girl, even when thous
and dangers surr rJundod her, felt thrill O.
delight as she realized she was beloved b,
this noble youth, and though pale and trem
bling she murmured in low tones:
Dear Francois, you are brave and devote,
to risk your life for my sake, but if it is an,
reward to you for the peril you are in, heal
me confess that love you, have loved yol
since the first hour we met"
MY darling, believe Eme when say yor
shall yet be happy, you shall escape from
hereland-"
But my father" interrupted Jeanne.
| Hoe rli
arrested and is to be tried before the dread
ed convention, but we have no time to waste
Let me save you. l will then see what / car
do for your father. See, have brought yol
disguise" and he showed her a simpl,
peasant dress. ''Put this on quickly, for il
ten minutes the mob will be here
In the gray dusk Jeanne made her escape
disguised as grisette, in short dress, laced
bodice, high capote.
When the brother of Francois entered the
palace his intended victims were beyond his
reach. The young secretary took Jeanne tc
the house of his uncle, the good Jacques
Fortunately for the daughter of the Count
de Coisseul, the blood-thirstyIvillain, Claude
Varney, had been wounded and therefore
could not visit his uncle.
Everyone was charmed with the new bar
maid who appeared at the inn of Jacques
1t was true her skin was little brown, hel
hair coarse, and the glasses she wore moi
very becoming. but then she was so pleasant
so willing and SO nimble of footi No one
ever waited on the rude crowd as this girl
did. Poor delicate little aristocrat! many a
bitter hour did she pass, many a blush
bathed her cheek as she listened to the yul-
gar jest, the loud laugh and coarse remarks
of the ruffians who came to the Royal Arms
to drink.
MY father-where is hep" said Jeanne to
her lover, as they were for brief moment
alone together.
What could Francois say? How could he
tell her of the tate of her beloved parent
who had met his death the day before by the
guillotine?
You hesitate, you turn pale, Alas! my
father, my poor fatherl am alone in the
woTld!' said the grlef-stricken girl, bursting
into tears.
Not alone, dear jeanne murmured
Francois. "You have me. am poor and
humble, but will love and protect you, and
try to make you happy"
| 1apCfh haoo,,o 1ov,xowo...